5. Keeping Pets as Company.doc

IV Debating and DiscussingIV 5 Keeping Pets as CompanyEveryday EnglishTopic sentence for today: I wouldnt go along with you there.A: Im thinking about getting a pet, but Im really not sure which animal would be suitable. Could you give me some advice? 我想养一个宠物，但是我真的不知道哪种动物适合。你能给我一些建议吗？B: Certainly! The first thing is to be honest about how much time you can devote to your pet. Dogs are very demanding. You need to take them for walks and they love to play. Cats, on the other hand, are more independent. 当然，坦白地说首先要考虑的是你能在宠物身上花多少时间。养狗要求比较高，你需要遛它们，它们很贪玩。然而猫会更独立一些。A: Im fairly busy, so I really need an animal that I dont need to care of very much. Actually, Id like a pet thats a little unusual. I dont really want a typical pet, like a cat, dog, or rabbit. Do you have any suggestions? 我很忙，因此我的确需要一个不用精心照顾的宠物。事实上，我想要一个有点与众不同的宠物, 而非一般通常的诸如狗、猫或者兔子。你有什么建议吗？B: Unusual pets are often more expensive to keep. Is that a problem? 特别的宠物往往养起来要多花钱，可以吗？A: not really. By the way, I dont want a pet that could be dangerous, like a tarantula or rattlesnake. 这真不是问题。顺便说一下，我不想要狼蛛和响尾蛇这样危险的动物。B: We have those, but I only sell them to people I know well, for obvious reasons. How about a lizard? I have some that are very brightly colored, are not aggressive, and are easy to feed and look after. 这些动物，我们这有。但毫无疑问我只卖给熟人。蜥蜴怎么样？我有些颜色很漂亮的，没有攻击性，而且很容易喂养和照看。A: That sounds ideal. Could you show me some? 听起来很理想，你能给我看一些吗？B: Sure. Come over here. As you can see, I have a wide selection of species. They can live together, if you want lizards of different kinds. Do you have a favorite color? 当然，过来吧。正如你所看到的，有很多种。如果想要不同种类的话，它们可以混养。你喜欢哪种颜色？A : I like the red one. What do they eat? 红色。它们吃什么？B: You can feed them on various things. They will eat small pieces of meat, but Id recommend insects. You can get them from your garden, but remember that lizards eat a lot of insects. I sell them there. 你可以喂它们各种东西。它们吃小块的肉，但是我建议喂它们昆虫。你可以从你的花园里找到，但请记住蜥蜴吃的很多。我这也出售。A: Thanks a lot. What Ill do is find out more online and drop by next time. 多谢了。我想在网上多了解一下，下次再来光顾。B: Thats fine. You shouldnt make a hasty decision when choosing a pet. 没问题。选择宠物你的确不应该草率做决定。In-put text for speakingRead the following passageUnderline the key words while reading Pets Are Good for YouThe basic meaning of “pet” is an animal we keep for emotional rather than economic reasons. A pet animal is kept as a companion, and we all need companions to keep us feeling happy. But pets offer us more than mere companionship；they invite us to love and be loved. Many owners feel their pets understand them, for animals are quick to sense anger and sorrow. Often a cat or dog can comfort us at times when human words dont help. We feel loved, too, by the way pets depend on us for a home, for food and drink. Dogs especially, look up to their owners, which makes them feel important and needed.A pet can be something different to each member of the family, another baby to the mother, a sister or brother to an only child, a grandchild to the elderly, but for all of us pets provide pleasure and companionship. It has even been suggested that tiny pets should be sent as companions to astronauts on space ships, to help reduce the stress and loneliness of space flights.In this Plastic Age, when most of us live in large cities, pets are particularly important for children. A pet in the family keeps people in touch with the more natural, animal world. Seeing an animal give birth brings understanding of the naturalness of childbirth, and seeing a pet die helps a child to cope with sorrow. Learning to care for a pet helps a child to grow up into a loving adult who feels responsible towards those dependent on him. Rightly we teach children to be good to their pets. They should learn, too, that pets are good for us human beings. Out-put activities1. Do you think the pets are really the good company ?2. What kind of people in the world are most likely to keep pets ? Why ?3. What particular issues related to keeping pets would you like to discuss with your classmates? Brainstorm:Help 1 Related words Phrases and sentencesTry to remember the following words, phrases and sentences.puppy 小狗 kitten 小猫goldfish 金鱼 tropical aquarium 热带鱼水族箱 bird cage 鸟笼 kennel 狗窝leftovers 剩饭剩菜 scraps 食物碎屑 playful 好玩的，顽皮的 energetic 精力充沛的 fascinating 迷人的 bark 吠，叫scratch （用爪子）抓 lick 舔 wag 摇晃（尾巴）hook 上瘾，很喜欢 epileptic 癫痫的，癫痫性的sniff 闻，嗅 take a dog for a walk 遛狗stray dogs 流浪狗 mating season 交配季节animal welfare organizations 动物福利组织pets daycare centers 宠物托养中心1）Men have kept pets since ancient times. We can see from discoveries in the pyramids in Egypt and from scenes on decorated wall-coverings of European castles that our ancestors were as interested in pets as we are.从远古时期，人们就开始饲养宠物。埃及金字塔里的种种发现，欧洲城堡华丽穹顶上的绘画都充分说明：我们的祖先和我们今天一样喜欢宠物。2) Companionship is a non-utilitarian reason for keeping pets. If people are living by themselves they feel lonely, and having a pet relieves this loneliness to some extent. We like to have some companion with us even if this companion is not human. We feel the need to have another living being to share our daily lives. Having a companion, even if it is only an animal, gives us a feeling of warmth and an interest in something else beyond ourselves.养宠物的另一个非实用的原因就是要它们和自己做伴。独自生活常常会感到孤单。养宠物可以从某种程度上缓解这种孤独感。我们喜欢有伴儿陪着，即使这个伴儿并不是人类。我们感觉需要另一个生命分享自己每日的生活。同伴，即使只是个动物，也可以给我们一种温暖的感觉，让我们对除自己以外的其他事物感兴趣。3）Some people even prefer pets to other people. Pets are not as demanding as people sometimes are. In particular, pets do not demand of us that we should talk when we wish to remain silent. Some people do talk to pets as if they were human beings, but they have the satisfaction of knowing that the pets cannot answer back and engage them in argument.一些人爱宠物胜过爱其他人。宠物不像人那样有时会有各种各样的要求。特别是当我们不想说话时，宠物不会逼我们开口。不过一些人会把宠物当作人一样和它们交谈，他们很高兴这些动物不能回答他们的问题，不会和他们争论。4) Animals can communicate with each other in their particular way. They communicate with human beings, too, for they are quick to sense anger and sorrow.动物能够用特殊的方式彼此交流。它们也能和人类交流，因为它们能快速感知人类的生气和悲伤。5) Rules and regulations seem to be an inescapable part of modern life theyre everywhere! When it comes to keeping pets and especially exotic pets there are some that you really need to know about.规章制度是现代生活中不可或缺的一部分。说到养宠物，尤其是外来宠物，有一些你需要了解的规定。6) Its a law you have to keep your pet on a leash and large dogs are recommended to be muzzled in public areas in case people feel intimidated and report a potentially vicious dog to the police.法律规定宠物必须拴上链子，并建议大型犬只在公共场所带口罩，以免人们感到被威胁，而向公安机关以疑似狂犬报案。Help 2 A passageRead the following passage quickly and brainstorm the potential topics for debate or discussion related to it. Here are some suggestions for your reference. Is the somewhat crazy love for pets reasonable ? Why? Should we encourage people to keep pets in an overpopulated world? Does pets-keeping bring more benefits than harm to people? Americans love petsAmericans love pets. And its not just puppy love, either. Many pet owners treat their furry friends as part of the family. Sometimes they spice up their pets lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys. If they have an eye for fashion, pet owners can dress their pets in stylish clothes. For special occasions, they can use canine perfume to make their dogs smell, well, less beastly. You might say Americans treat their pets like they treat their children-sometimes even better. In America, there are more households with pets than those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical fish, mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs, even at the White House. The Clintons cat, Socks, has replaced the Bushes dog, Millie, as reigning First Pet. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. Dog people and cat people often enjoy friendly rivalries. Leading a dogs life in America isnt such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza. Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds. Beneath the fluffy luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when its time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery. The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a persons blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.。Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family. After all, pets are people, too. Help 3 Situational plays:Work in small groups. Each group member selects one of the following roles, and then tries to perform a panel discussion before the whole class after some preparation.A: A volunteer of the Homeless Animals OrganizationB: A young lady of the 80s generation who cares most about the fashionC: An anxious mother who is attempting to dissuade her daughter from keeping a puppy.D: An international student of Beijing University from England, where pets are the part of life.E: A retired man living aloneF: A health expert who cares about peoples health condition owing to pets-keeping.Speak from the above roles; your discussion should address the following questions: What are the direct and indirect effects of keeping pets? What turned more and more people into a pet-lover? Give your opinions and advice on whether people should be encouraged to keep pets.Automatic practice1. Pair WorkRead the following dialogue arguing about pets with your partner and you may exchange roles and then prepare another dialogue, starting with the following statements from the affirmative side. Try to use the useful expressions given to you. Remember what you say must be related to pets.Dialogue 1Philip: Wow! It is reported that there is a law against having dogs on the streets. How can they be so cruel to animals?Peter: Oh, is that so? But what for?Philip: The streets are a mess. Why dont people clean up the mess from their dogs?Peter: Well, as far as I am concerned, it is not a bad change.Philip: Does it mean that the dogs have to stay inside apartments at all times? Its rather cruel, isnt it?Peter: I see. But the city is already too crowded without dogs. I am in favor of building a dog park in case the owners randomly walk their pets.Philip: I really cant stand with you. There must be some other alternatives to solve city congestion rather than forbidding having dogs on the streets.Dialogue 2A: Well, we all think of our pets as members of the family, right? Well, now, some churches across the country are welcoming pets into the pews during church services.B: _A: _B: _Useful expressions1) I am afraid I dont agree2) You could say that, but3) Could you be more specific?4) Can I add something here?2. Chat with your partner You and your partner are given pieces of news or some arguments concerning pets. You and your partner are supposed to give your response from affirmative and negative sides. You may exchange roles. Try to use as many different expressions as possible.1) While pediatricians know about pet-related hazards, only 5 percent say they regularly educate parents and children about such dangers, an attitude that should change, Dr. Larry Pickering of Emory University Medical School in Atlanta said in report for the American Academy of Pediatrics.2) Half of dog owners allow their pets on the sofa, while one in two cats sleep on their owners bed every night. Nearly two-thirds of dogs and 45% of cats receive a gift for their birthday and Christmas.3) Although sometimes pets make your room a mess, break your favorite vase, even some time they bite you, the advantages of having a close relationship with pets overweight the disadvantages.4) Cole, a nurse at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center who led the study, and her colleagues studied 76 heart failure patients - average age 57 - who got either a visit from a volunteer, a volunteer plus a dog, or no visit. The scientists meticulously measured patients physiological responses before, during and after the visits. Anxiety as measured by a standard rating scale dropped 24 percent for those visited by the dog and volunteer team, but only by 10 percent for those visited by just a volunteer. The scores for the group with no visit remained the same.After-class activities:1. Passage for Recitation PetsBeing very close to a pet can be both a positive and a negative thing. Health professionals have concluded that having a pet is very healthy for everyone. People who have heart disease or similar health problems are often urged to get a pet because it can lower your blood pressure. However, some people get anxious about their pets. If you always worry about the pet getting lost or not getting the right food to eat, then that isnt healthy for you.Many pets are very loving and its easy to love them back. Some people, though, go overboard. They treat their pets like one of the family. Sometimes they even set a place for them at the table or give them their own rooms in the house. They treat them as if they were children. Some pets are, in fact, substitutes for children. People need to keep their perspective about their pets. Dressing a pet up in clothes like a child is not emotionally healthy. Pets are animals and get confused if you expect them to act like human beings.There are now stores devoted entirely to pets. They sell pet food, pet toys, pet clothes, pet homes. Pets should be given appropriate food, and they should have a few toys, since they need some enjoyment just like humans do. However, some pet owners spend hundreds of dollars on supplies for their pets. There are children in the world who dont have clothes or food or toys. It would be better to give some of that money to charity.Feeling close to your pet can be very satisfying and healthy, as long as you dont overdo it.2. For funAre Pets Good for Us? While research has suggested that pets can offer people health benefits, a new study from Finland finds that pet owners tend to be heavier, less active and in poorer health than those without a pet. However, that doesnt mean pets are bad for us, the researchers note. Rather, people most likely to have a pet, such as middle-aged and home-owners, also tend to be more sedentary and thicker around the middle. Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland report the findings, an online journal published by the Public Library of Science. A number of studies have suggested that certain people benefit from living with a dog or cat - a pet may help lower blood pressure and heart rate, for example, or ease stress, loneliness and even dementia-related agitation in the elderly. But whether pet owners as a group are a healthier lot has been unclear. The new findings suggest theyre not. Using survey data from more than 21,000 young to middle-aged Finnish adults, researchers found that pet owners were generally more likely to be overweight and to view their own health as poor. This was largely because pet owners tended to be middle-aged, have less education and more health-risk factors, explained Dr. Leena K, the studys lead author. And despite having time to take for walks, even dog owners typically got little exercise. This is likely because they were often home-owners who could simply put the dog in the yard, Dr. Leena K noted. The fact that pet owners were in poorer health does not mean that furry companions arent a health boon, she said. “In my opinion, Dr. Leena K said, pets provide us all with a vast potential for health promotion, and this has indeed been shown when some special groups have been studied.” Pet own